La Cage Aux Folles at the Titusville Playhouse

La Cage Aux Folles at the Titusville Playhouse

By Steven Skelley and Thomas Routzong

Certain shows make me laugh out loud no matter how many times I see them. "La Cage Aux Folles" is very high on that list. Not only is it comedy and musical magic, it has an important message about love, acceptance, equality and family.

THE STORY

Georges and Albin operate a drag nightclub where Albin stars. The gay couple has raised a son together. Their son announces he is engaged to the daughter of a pompous, regressive, anti-gay politician who is coming for dinner. To make matters worse, their son wants them to pretend to be heterosexual or to hide drag diva Albin completely. Chaos hilariously ensues.

OUR INTERVIEW WITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR STEVEN J. HERON

La Cage is both hilarious and insightful on many levels. What do you think is the best thing about performing it on stage?

It is so relatable to everyone because it is truly a normal relationship and family dynamic.

Take the fact that the couple is a gay couple out of the mix the story is what everyone, no matter who you, are faces in every relationship of length.

It is also smartly written so that the child, like most children at times, is embarrassed by their parents and want them to change. This is so incredible for this show because it makes the basic storytelling relatable to everyone.

But then make it a same sex couple and add in a drag club and wow you have conflict that makes people think all the while they are still relating.

We have done something unique as well. Albin and Georges do not kiss or show much physical emotion to each other by design throughout the show. We have made it that way so someone who might struggle with LGBTQ does not have that from the first moment. We do wait until the end of the show for a final kiss where Albin is not in drag any longer but a man. We felt it would make a bigger impact having two men kiss as the final button of the show and keeping everyone in anticipation for that moment throughout the whole show.

The show also smartly wins the audience over with humor and charm all the while making the audience fall in love with the couple that some, I might dare say, would never know or feel for a same sex couple. Very smart writing and show that has stood the test of time since it debuted in 1983!

The character Albin has been hilariously portrayed by Harvey Fierstein (in La Cage) and Nathan Lane (in The Birdcage.) What do you see in Albin that you hope others see in your portrayal?

As a comedic actor I love the role!! But what it does for me that I rarely get to do is have full emotions.

We have staged a few scenes differently for a bigger emotional impact such as when Georges tells Albin that he is not invited to meet the parents and wedding. The original had Albin behind a dressing screen changing. We have left me onstage to receive that news directly. That direct emotional hit, I hope does not go unnoticed to the audience, which just sets up more emotional push behind the Act 1 finale "I Am What I Am" because the audience has been allowed to experience the pain and the hurt of being unwanted or unaccepted.

Now as a gay man myself and 48 years old being raised in Alabama I know first-hand how you hide what you are and are selective at who you tell and when you tell people your real truth.

I myself have been in a 19 year relationship and yet still am private about my personal life in business and some others.

Although I would never say I am closeted I am guarded.

Playing Albin has been freeing for me personally. I get to make people laugh all the while showing others that people are just people.

OUR THOUGHTS

The music is catchy and alternately inspiring, touching and romantic. "I Am What I Am" has a message for everyone.

Steven J. Heron was born to portray Albin. Even when he appears in outrageous drag outfits, his eyes show the pain and self-doubt Albin tries to conceal.

Jordyn Linkous provides constant over-the-top comic relief as Georges and Albin's drag maid / butler Jacob who has never had an inappropriate thought she didn't vocalize.

The Titusville Playhouse production of "La Cage Aux Folles" is definitely a must-see event for Space Coast theatre lovers.

"La Cage Aux Folles" runs January 11 to February 3, 2019.

The Titusville Playhouse is located at 301 Julia Street, Titusville, FL 32796. Phone the playhouse at 321-268-1125.

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